French president François Hollande has confirmed that he had separated from his partner of seven years Valerie Trierweiler.

He told the French news agency Agence France-Presse in a telephone call on Saturday evening: "I make it known that I have put an end to the relationship."

The announcement came two weeks after it was reported that he was having an affair with a French actress when a magazine published photographs which appeared to show him visiting the actress Julie Gayet.

Trierweiler spent a week in hospital following publication after reportedly taking "one pill too many". Since she left hospital, she has been staying at an official residence, La Lanterne, near Versailles.

Trierweiler, who has continued to work as a journalist for the glossy magazine Paris-Match, is travelling to India on Sunday in support of the work of the French charity Action Against Hunger.

Hollande told AFP he was speaking in a personal capacity and not as the head of state.

Trierweiler and Hollande have never married. She announced their relationship six months after he left his previous partner, one-time French presidential candidate Segolene Royal, with whom he has four children.

Earlier in the day, his office at the Elysee Palace had said "false rumours" had been circulating in the French media about the split, and no statement would be forthcoming.

Hollande, who has never denied having an affair with Julie Gayet, has admitted to a "difficult moment" in his relationship with Trierweiler.

Gayet is suing the magazine for €50,000 (£41,650) in damages and €4,000 (£3,330) in legal costs, claiming it breached French privacy rules.

Hollande, who has himself threatened legal action over the pictures, said he was "totally indignant" about the story, which he claimed threatened the principle of "respect for private life and people's dignity".